Target system

ABSTRACT

A target system provided with a pop-up target, system comprising a target ( 3 ) overturnable by an impact and an actuating mechanism for moving the target ( 3 ), said target being connected to the actuating mechanism by a pivot structure ( 8, 9 ), and said actuating mechanism comprising a lifter for lifting the target to an upright position and an electric motor ( 1 ) for moving the lifter. The actuating mechanism comprises a vertical rail system ( 6 ) and a carriage part ( 2 ) vertically movable along it by the electric motor, said pivot structure ( 8, 9 ) being arranged on said carriage part. The lifter is a supporting lifter device ( 13, 14 ), against which the target falls when hit and which, when the carriage ( 2 ) is lowered, lifts the target to an upright position substantially by utilizing the movement of the carriage and the inertia of the target.

The present invention relates to a target system provided with a pop-uptarget as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

Target systems with pop-up targets designed for light infantry weaponscomprise a metallic target, which falls down when hit by a bullet, andan actuating mechanism for actuating the target, i.e. for lifting it upagain and moving it. The actuating mechanism may be protected by ashield plate placed in front of it. To control the actuating mechanism,a control apparatus provided with a computer may be connected to theactuating mechanism. Hits can be detected e.g. by using a hit detectorarranged in conjunction with the target.

The actuating mechanism may be electrically operated, but it may also beoperated pneumatically. A drawback with pneumatic target systems istheir large size, which means that moving them e.g. for transportationrequires transport equipment, and in addition, they often have to beimmovably installed. Moreover, in connection with relocation ofpneumatic systems, e.g. the pneumatic hoses and protection againstfragments have to be renewed.

An electrically operated target system provided with a pop-up target isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,394. The, system described in thisspecification, comprises a vertical protective flange on the front sideand another, horizontal flange behind it. The target is hinged at theupper edge of the vertical flange, and when hit by a bullet, it swingsbackwards into a horizontal rest position. A main shaft driven by anelectric motor is mounted behind the protective flange. Mounted with aclutch mechanism on this shaft is a target raising arm, which, when thetarget is in the backward position, swings from its rest positionupwardly and turns the target to an upright position.

The system disclosed in the above US patent specification is relativelycomplicated. Moreover, it is relatively weak in construction e.g.because of the welded joints used in the target, so it will easily breakand therefore does not tolerate hard use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,752 discloses a target range apparatus for rifle andhandgun targets having a knock-down target supported on a target basemoveable on a support frame between an upper, exposed position and alower, hidden position. The target is pivotally attached to the targetframe for movement between an upright position and a knock-downposition. An air cylinder moves the target base upwardly against a pairof springs which, when the air cylinder is disabled, return the targetbase to the lower position. A reed switch senses movement of the targetto the knock-down position and disables the air cylinder. Upon movementof the target base to the lower position, a reset arm returns the targetto its upright position. The apparatus further includes a support frameembedded in the ground and a target base on which is pivotally mounted atarget that in the preferred embodiment is an animal silhouette.

The problem of the prior art as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,752 is theheavy and bulky construction of the apparatus, especially as theactuating means include an air

The object of the present invention. is to overcome the drawbacks ofprior art and to achieve a new type of target system provided with apop-up target and actuated by an electric motor, which system is of verydurable design and is additionally of modular construction.

In the target system of the invention, the target is attached to acarriage which moves on upright guide rails and is driven by anelectrically operated actuating mechanism. When the carriage is drivenup, the target is in an upright position and visible to the shooter.When the shooter hits the target, it falls down and disappears fromview. The electric motor draws the carriage down, with the result thatthe target hits a lifter and rises to an upright position again. Thecarriage remains in the low position hidden behind a protective armour,ready to raise the target again.

The features of the target system of the invention are presented indetail in the claims below.

The target system of the invention is very simple and durable,especially because welded joints have been eliminated from the partssubject to stress, thus achieving a durable construction. In addition,the target system of the invention is of light weight, so it can beportable, and no special transport equipment is needed for relocation ofthe target system. Thanks to the modular construction, individual partsare of light weight, typically below 20 kg, and e.g. broken or wornparts can be replaced in a rapid and simple manner. Thus, if necessary,a single person can move, assemble and disassemble the target system.

Moreover, the target system of the invention makes it possible toimplement a reactive and relocatable target system that can be used e.g.with a large variety of portable-firearm calibers.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail withreference to and example and the attached drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 a presents an oblique rear view of a target system according tothe

FIG. 1 b a front view of a target system according to the inventionwithout front armour, and

FIG. 2 a-2 d present a target system according to the invention indifferent positions.

The target system presented in FIG. 1 a and 1 b consists of five maincomponents: a target 3, a carriage 2, guide rails 6, an electric motor 1with levers 4, 5 and a frame 7. The operation of the system iscontrolled by a control unit (not shown) provided with a computer. Thetarget 3 is a steel plate impenetrable to a bullet.

The motor 1 located in the lower part of the apparatus moves thecarriage 2 along a pair of vertical guide rails 6 by means of levers 4,5 connected to it. The target 3 is hinged at its lower end on thecarriage by horizontal shaft 8 provided in the carriage and a transversehorizontal hole in the lower edge of the target. The levers 4, 5 areconnected to the rotating axle 10 of the motor 1 and to a pivot pin 11at the lower edge of the carriage. In addition, the levers are connectedto each other by a pivot pin 12. The motor 1 and the guide rails guidingthe carriage may be fixedly mounted on the frame 7.

In position A (FIG. 2 a), the carriage 2 is in its low position and thetarget 3 in an upright position but hidden behind a front armour 15. Thecarriage 2 is raised up by the motor 1, thus bringing the target toposition B (FIG. 2 b) so that it can be shot at. If the target 3 is nothit, then it is lowered along with the carriage 2 back to position A. Ifthe target 3 is hit, then it falls down to position C (FIG. 2 c), whereit is supported by a support part 13. The overturning is registered by asensor connected to the control unit.

When the carriage 2 is lowered to position D (FIG. 2 d), the target 3hits a lifter 14, which, powered by the motion of the carriage and theinertia of the target, returns the target 3 to an upright position, andwhen the carriage 2 reaches the low position, the system is again inposition A. The length of the rails 6 is so chosen that, in position A,the target 3 is completely hidden behind the front

The support part 13 and the lifter may be solid or flexible. The supportpart 13 is located in a position where the translation and rotation ofthe target 3 are simultaneously cancelled out. The functions of thesupport part 13 and the lifter 14 can also be integrated in a singlecomponent.

In the high position, the target is not strictly upright but slightlyforward inclined. This is a stable position and the target can not beoverturned e.g. by the wind. cast.

As described above, the target system implements the following threefunctions: target emerging into view, target disappearing from view, andimmediate feedback from a hit as target is overturned or the like.

The system consists of distinct modules that can be replaced with newones when necessary. The target 3 may also consist of two parts 16, 17attached to each other e.g. with bolts 19, of which parts the upper oneis a target part 16 and the lower one a mounting part 17, which has aslot 18 in its upper edge for the target part and in its lower edge ahole 9 for a shaft 8 as mentioned above.

The motor 1 used as a power means can be easily carried along and, whennecessary, a likewise portable accumulator can be used a power source.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that differentembodiments of the invention are not limited to the example describedabove, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claimspresented below. The electric motor may also be a linear motor, in whichcase no lever arms are needed.

1. Target system for light infantry weapons provided with a pop-uptarget, said system comprising: a target (3) overturnable by an impactand an actuating mechanism for moving the target (3), said target beingconnected to the actuating mechanism by a pivot structure (8,9) , andsaid actuating mechanism comprising a lifter for lifting the target toan upright position, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises avertical rail system (6) and a carriage part (2) vertically movablealong it, said pivot structure (8,9) being arranged on said carriagepart, and wherein the lifter is a supporting lifter device (13, 14),against which the target falls when hit and which, when the carriage (2)is lowered, lifts the target to an upright position substantially byutilizing the movement of the carriage and the inertia of the target,characterized in that the actuating mechanism further comprises anelectric motor for moving the carriage part (2) along the rail system(6), and that the target system is portable.
 2. System according toclaim 1, characterized in that the supporting lifter consists of asupport part (13) and a lifter part (14) as separate parts.
 3. Systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting lifter issolid or flexible.
 4. System according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe supporting lifter is disposed at a position where the translationand rotation of the target (3) are cancelled out simultaneously, orclose to such a position.
 5. System according to claim 1, characterizedin that the target (3) consists of two parts (16, 17) attached to eachother by fastening elements, the upper one of said parts being aplate-like target part (16) and the lower one a mounting part (17)provided with a pivot structure (8,9).
 6. System according to claim 5,characterized in that the upper edge of the mounting part (17) isprovided with a slot (18) for the target part.
 7. System according toclaim 1, comprising a substantially plate-like protective armor (15) onits front side, characterized in that the rail system (6) extends to aheight such that the target in its low position (position A) iscompletely hidden behind the protective armor.
 8. Target systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the system is of modularconstruction, consisting of detachable, e.g. replaceable parts, whichare joined together without welded joints or equivalent.
 9. Systemaccording to claim 8, characterized in that the target (3) consists oftwo parts (16, 17) attached to each other by fastening elements, theupper one of said parts being a plate-like target part (16) and thelower one a mounting part (17) provided with a pivot structure (8,9).10. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the supportinglifter is solid or flexible.
 11. System according to claim 2,characterized in that the supporting lifter is disposed at a positionwhere the translation and rotation of the target (3) are cancelled outsimultaneously, or close to such a position.